Is the modeling industry going too far?

[Lisa Newton]

Today’s Wall Street Journal features a story about Tatiana Stewart, who at 6'2" and wearing a size 4, want to be a fashion model. However, she was told she needed to lose 10-15lbs.

What do you think? Looking at her photo and knowing she wears a size 4, do you think she needs to lose weight?

[Doris Herrmann]

Honestly, why can't models look like most women? The beautiful woman in this picture looks healthy and very fit. It is a shame that women feel they'd have to be a size 0 to fit into some image that a media driven society has made for us. I look at some of the models today, and I'd never want my daughter (if I had one) to look that pale or thin. I also wonder what the results will be for the super model types when they enter their 50s. Have they missed valuable minerals just to keep up the look without realizing their bones will suffer later?

This girl is beautiful, and I'd love to see her modeling clothing, in my opinion she's closer to the ideal then most of the super models I see in magazines and commercials.

[DR]

Ridiculous!

That girl is so skinny, I swear that I saw her pancreas produce insulin.

But let's try and see this from the designer's point of view. Simply put, clothes look better on super skinny models.

My suggestion: Do away with the models altogether, put the clothes on a perfectly proportioned "Judy" and have it travel down the runway on a conveyor belt.

That way, every body wins and Tatiana can bulk up to a size 6 or eve, shudder...a size 8.

[Alex Costa]

It's ridiculous to tell her to lose weight, I believe that it's time for our politicians start to introduce some laws to this market.
For example, require a minimal bmi for models, if one model have a bmi less than 15% she can not be hired.

[Cash Sunshine]

The length models go to achieve fame is absolutely unhealthy and they pride themselves to be an idol to youngsters.

[Alyssa]

Um, no! She does NOT need to lose weight! I think the modeling industry has been going too far for quite some time now. Models and actresses keep getting skinnier and skinnier, and it has to stop. Models are dying. Young women are starving themselves literally to death in order to walk the runway. These images DO affect women and young girls in negative ways.

[Rachyl Stone]

Wow. This just makes me so sad. I think this world has gone crazy. I think at 6'2" and size 4, this girl probably needs to gain a few pounds. Who decides what is good enough, pretty enough, skinny enough, sexy enough and even cute enough? And why do we listen to them?? I was sick to my stomach recently when I saw a story about a Chinese girl lip syncing at the Olympics. Apparently, the 7 year old girl who actually sang the song wasn't cute enough. "The reason was for the national interest. The child on camera should be flawless in image, internal feeling and expression," music director Chen Qigang said on Beijing Radio, noting that the switch was made upon request of a senior member of the Politburo. What the...??? It is so hard to instill positive self-esteem and self-image in kids as it is. Do we really need people telling 7 year olds they aren't cute enough??? My 14 year old daughter is extremely beautiful and people are always approaching us about modeling. But I don't want her in that lifestyle. And I guess I did a pretty good job raising her because she doesn't want that lifestyle, either. I feel like I don't have the words to express how I'm feeling about all of this, so I digress.

http://www.washtimes.com/news/2008/aug/13/olympics-lip-syncing-hits...

[John Obraza]

I can't stand to hear about how models...the "fashion icons" are told to lose weight...even though they are already as thin as that crackhead waif Amy Beerhouse. Girls already are bombarded with too many self image issues...I hate the modeling industry. What happened to the days of Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell etc. Marilyn was a "whopping" size 12 and had men tripping over their tongues when she wiggled across the screen. I struggle everyday helping my 15 year old daughter accept the body God gave her. We exercise and eat the best diet possible and she is a very healthy 150 lb softball player that can kick any of these "stickgirls'" butts.

[Chris Parkinson]

hello John and everyone,
This was going to be my sentiments-----I think the days of my parents actors were much more human/humane! Women like Lauren Becall and Marilyn Monroe, Katherine Hepburn and so on. They had grace, style and the whole beauty of that more "normal" size and figure. Keep up the good work with your daughter, it is important for her at this age.

happy weekend to all!!!

[Live Well]

EW!!! I always get disgusted with this topic! The model industry wants this unrealistic body type to show off the latest in fashion. It was said earlier -- most women do not look like that. Own your curves ladies! Women are supposed to have some curves!!! I once lost so much weight I didn't have any curves and I felt like a boy. It was horrible. My self-esteem was worse than before I lost the weight. Sure it was a high to wear a size 4 (I'm 5'8") for the first time in my life, but I seriously looked like a boy (and had absolutely no energy). I purposely & healthfully (??) gained back some weight and got my curves -- and my smile -- back.

[Andrew Scott]

This is more silly thank anything else! I would have to agree with Liz!

Andrew

[Gabrielle Shafer]

THAT IS INSANE!! Who are they making these clothes for anyway?! YES, they are going to far, but they have been going to far for far to long!

[Jack]

This should be a big subject. It's easy for an agency or or modeling firm to say lose some more weight, as a way to say you didn't get the job or position for what ever reason. And on the other hand the model has to weight: lose the weight or be healthy. There are some models that specialize in large or pregnant ware. And then again the top models or even the ones in IS I don't think are that skinny, but maybe that's the camera.

From a social point of view, I think back in the depression being large was attractive and a large woman was usually placed in the ads. But in todays society where there are a large percentage of over weight people and a desire as a whole not to be over weight and to diet and be slim is the norm, agencies are looking to fill that desired.

How ever when I look through women's magazines you can sometimes tell who is healthy and who is not. And I got to point out some of the anorexics, why would you let your self become so unhealthy and why would you want someone so unhealthy on your ad?

I guess when society puts more weight on healthy women, then we'll see more healthy women. But I got to say, some of the top models are very healthy and show some muscle tone.